Game Breakdown: Bulldogs vs. Gators

Georgia rushed for a season-high 173 yards against Vanderbilt, but goes up against a Florida team that ranks 12th in the nation in run defense, allowing 94.6 yards per game on the ground and 2.9 per rush. Quarterback Joe Cox and big-play receiver A.J. Green will have to win their share against Florida's talented secondary. Arkansas rushed for 133 and Tennessee 117 against Florida. The Gators have sorely missed wideouts Percy Harvin and Louis Murphy. The Gators' downfield passing game has been absent of late. Their longest pass play last week was 21 yards and was 26 against LSU and 18 against Tennessee. The Gators are sixth in the nation in rushing (258.2 yards per game), but 80th in passing. They've topped 134 passing yards just once in SEC play with 255 against Arkansas. Quarterback Tim Tebow will look to spark Florida's red-zone touchdown woes. He had three rushing touchdowns last year against Georgia and two in 2007.

► DEFENSE: Florida

Florida has allowed 71 points this season and its six touchdowns yielded are the fewest in the nation. Only four have come against the defense (two rushing and two receiving) and the other two came last week off Tebow interception returns. Florida has held four of its six opponents under 100 yards rushing including Mississippi State and Anthony Dixon, who had a five-game streak of 100-yard rushing games snapped with 53. The Gators have at least four sacks each of the past three games and picked off three passes against Mississippi State. Georgia's defense - which allowed career-best passing days against Tennessee's Jonathan Crompton, Arkansas' Ryan Mallett and South Carolina's Stephen Garcia - ranks 90th against the pass (238.3) and 54th against the run (127.3). The Bulldogs have had trouble against opposing teams' tight ends, and Florida's Aaron Hernandez leads the Gators with 33 catches for 392 yards and two touchdowns.

► SPECIAL TEAMS: Even

Georgia has players ranked in the top 25 in punting (Drew Butler, 1st, 49.38 avg.), punt returns (Prince Miller, 12th, 14.4), field goals (Blair Walsh, 1.5 per game, 11 of 12) and kickoff return (Brandon Boykin, 27.3 yards avg.) The Bulldogs' kickoff- coverage unit - 107th in the nation - faces a challenge in the elusive Brandon James, who averages 27.6 yards per return. Florida has allowed 0 punt-return yards, which is tied for second best in the nation. Florida Atlantic (minus-8) is the only team to give up fewer. Florida's Chris Rainey blocked his second punt of the year last week against Mississippi State. Gators kicker Caleb Sturgis is 13 of 16 on FGs. including a 37-yard miss last week. Florida's Chas Henry averages 39.8 yards per punt.

► INTANGIBLES: Georgia

Georgia is well-rested. Florida is grinding after a pair of unimpressive showings against Arkansas and Mississippi State. The Bulldogs are a loss away from falling again to .500, but could make their season with a signature victory. Florida has felt the pressure of being a heavy favorite to repeat as national champion. The last AP preseason No. 1 to finish there was Southern California in 2004. Georgia has circled this game on their schedule for months after getting embarrassed 49-10 last year. Will the Bulldogs have another motivational ploy like they did when they celebrated in 2007? The bye week gave Georgia coaches time to add some new wrinkles to an offense that ranks 60th in the nation in scoring.

► COACHING: Florida

Georgia coach Mark Richt is 86-25 in nine seasons at Georgia and 2-6 against Florida. Richt has said that Jackonsville is not a true neutral site game for the Bulldogs, but the school moved to re-up for a six-year extension after the current contract ends in 2010. Richt is fourth in winning percentage among active coaches with five years of experience. Urban Meyer is second with a 90-17 record in nine seasons including 51-9 at Florida in his fifth season. A coaching matchup to watch: Georgia defensive coordinator Willie Martinez vs. Florida offensive coordinator Steve Addazio. Both are feeling heat from their fan bases.

► OVERALL: Florida

This game looks much more winnable for Georgia than it might have back in the preseason or even a month ago. Florida's offense hasn't looked nearly as explosive as it did a year ago. The Gators haven't reached the 30-point mark in four of their five SEC games. They did it in every SEC game last year including 51 against LSU, 63 against Kentucky, 49 against Georgia and 56 against South Carolina. Florida's defense-which returned all starters from the BCS title team, including linebacker Brandon Spikes and cornerback Joe Haden-is allowing fewer points and yards than a year ago. As good as SEC-leading receiver A.J. Green has been for the Bulldogs, the Gators' talent on defense will be too much for the Bulldogs to overcome. Look for Florida to leave Jacksonville still unbeaten with its 17th win in 20 games in the series.